Alexa Plus: Amazon’s AI-Powered Upgrade
Amazon has unveiled a significant upgrade to its virtual assistant, Alexa, introducing Alexa Plus, a generative AI-powered update designed to make the assistant “smarter than she’s ever been.” The new features, which promise a more conversational and proactive experience, will begin rolling out next month and will be free for Amazon Prime members.
Panos Panay, the lead of Amazon’s devices and services team, shared details on the updated Alexa at an event in New York. He emphasized the new generation’s enhanced capabilities, stating, “She’s smarter than she’s ever been before, but she’s also approachable.”
Alexa Plus is engineered with new features to enhance its user experience and give it a human-like character. During a live demo, the new Alexa told Panay, “I’m not just an assistant, I’m your new best friend in the digital world. I’ve got jokes, smarts and a genuine desire to make your life easier and more fun.” Alexa can now:
- Book dinner reservations
- Set reminders
- Order and send gifts
- Learn user routines and preferences
- Control smart home devices, including security cameras, lights, and music
During the demo, Alexa was able to play music and control devices located in different locations in the room. It was also able to call up content on the TV with greater accuracy.
Panay also highlighted the assistant’s improved ability to control the smart home, including the ability to monitor security cameras and control lights. Alexa can also play music across various speakers and even control smart TVs, as demonstrated by playing a scene from the movie “A Star is Born” on a stage smart TV.
“The new Alexa knows almost every instrument in your life,” Panay stated, showing also how the new Alexa could sort through home security videos and determine the latest dog walk, or when a last delivery took place.
During the presentation, Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy emphasized Amazon’s investment in AI, highlighting other generative AI programs like Rufus, a shopping assistant, and Amazon Bedrock, a foundation model service for developers. Jassy said that Amazon has more than 1,000 generative AI programs currently in use or being built.
The new Alexa Plus is an upgrade that is set to roll out next month and will be free for Prime members.
